Question

Regarding the use of templates, did residents of Cornwall in the 19th Century regard themselves as Cornish or English?

Comments

Hi J. This is an interesting and difficult question. As someone with Cornish ancestors some generations back, I'm inclined to think that they would have considered themselves either Cornish only and not English, or else Cornish first and English only second. Either case might be covered better by a template mentioning Cornwall not England. But I haven't found much to back my personal impression sorry. This 2014 Guardian article is partly relevant.

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I bought Historian Phillip Payton's book CORNWALL as soon as it was published in 1996.  I also subscribed to a magazine called CORNISH WORLD from Issue one until it ended some years later - because I have Cornish ancestry going back so far to the 1500s & my birth surname is Cornish.  

Cornish people of many generations NEVER were & are still not English. When one of my genie software programs automatically adds England after I type in a Cornish town, I erase England.  

Like the Welsh the Cornish were forced to give up their language but in the 1990s classes began &continue to this day. The Welsh & Cornish languages are similar to the language from Brittany France.

Answer 1

Cornish people are often very proud of their Cornish heritage.  There was even some talk a while back about making Cornwall a country of its own.

Instead of using {{England Sticker}}, try adding a parameter, so it reads {{England Sticker|Cornwall}}.  Then it will say Grace Walter was born in Cornwall, England.

Comments

You can also add an extra parameter and have it say the placename within Cornwall, thusly : {{England Sticker|Cornwall|Bowling Green}}

Answer 2

I can only comment from my own family's perspective. My great-grandmother was born in Cornwall - although she spent most of her life in New Zealand. She and her NZ-born younger sisters always referred to and considered themselves as Cornish - never English.

Answer 3

 - hi J McClure   - and thanks for the ? - -

 - ''Of course we're 'Cornish', Brythonic Celts, no less'', my Tasmania born father would tell us; of 'VDL' parents. That means you are 25%; and I am 12.5% Cornish !. .. But then I am a cosmopolitan Aussie ! ! !  - - -

 - Here are a couple of Links for you to ponder - - =

 - Andrewartha Name Study.  - Cornwall, Connerton Hundred - Domesday Tree. - -  enjoy - john.a

Answer 4

My Great Grandmother always regarded herself as Cornish never English, if that helps even to the very last day of her life. She considered it insulting to be called English